McCARTIN COPS YET ANOTHER CONCUSSION

Concussion for McCartin again

THE immediate future of St Kilda forward Paddy McCartin is under a cloud after the luckless big man suffered another concussion yesterday.

McCartin was collected high by teammate Ben Long as he backed into a pack on the wing just in front of the Saints’ interchange bench during the second quarter at Ballarat’s Eureka Stadium.

He did not return to the field after halftime and St Kilda coach Alan Richardson confirmed post-match that McCartin had failed a concussion test after the incident.

“Paddy was concussed, so he’ll just be assessed as per normal. You just wait to see from a symptoms point of view,” Richardson said.

“I think we all know that Paddy’s had a little bit of history there, so a JLT game, we’re not going to take any risks. He’s fine in there [the rooms] now. He’ll need a bit of time to clear the head out. Our doctors, who are brilliant, will obviously make sure when he’s right, he’s right. We don’t know when that will be. It could be he’s right by Tuesday, it might be he takes a little bit longer.”

McCartin had started the match well, kicking two goals in the opening term from just three disposals before the incident. The Saints won by 14.

It is believed to be the 22year-old’s eighth concussion since the start of 2014.

“What I have learnt is that with Paddy, given that he’s had a few head knocks, it’s not that because they have had a lot of head knocks, it’s incredibly dire,” Richardson said.

“Everybody’s different in terms of how they recover, particularly when there’s been significant gaps between knocks.

“So our doctors are saying the fact he’s had a bit of history isn’t too much of an issue.”

The Saints were also dealing with another possible health scare for defender Dylan Roberton, who noted he did not feel quite right as he left the field at the end of the game. Roberton missed most of last season after collapsing during a Round 4 game with a heart issue.